Banyan Air Service

Danny Santiago began his relationship with aviation at Broward College pursuing his A&P license. He matriculated to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and received his bachelor’s degree in aviation maintenance and management.

Fresh out of school, Santiago discovered he not only had a passion, but a natural gift when it came to aircraft engine overhaul, for both piston and turbine engines. During this time, he also earned his private instrument pilot license. After his tenure with Southeast Turbines, Santiago moved to Banyan Air Service to take full advantage of his aircraft maintenance license.

Starting out as an A&P technician, the leadership qualities in Santiago were quickly noticed and capitalized upon, as he was then made crew leader, specifically the Falcon lead. Within three years, Santiago made the next move in his career and secured the position of maintenance service manager at Banyan. In this role, Santiago honed his customer relations skills and developed new methods for maintaining both compliance and customer satisfaction. He also completed Pratt & Whitney PT6A and JT15D training.

When other departments were in need of professional leadership, Santiago accepted a new role in a department that he had little prior exposure to. Santiago assumed the role of director of avionics in January 2018 and has led the department back to the fields of profitability. It’s not just his “can-do” attitude that generates the positive aura around him; his lack of fear to challenge the unknown or what has been deemed “the impossible” that generates the team’s forward momentum. Recently, he has spearheaded the ADS-B and connectivity projects at Banyan and is the main liaison with GE and Gogo.

Santiago’s versatility has navigated through these uncharted waters keeping the team and the business priorities first. Outside of Banyan, Santiago is a council member of the Gogo dealer advisory board and an active member of several business aviation organizations, including AEA, NBAA, FABA, ALEA, and SFBAA. He also is an active participant in the United States Parachute Association and loves to skydive.

Banyan continues to grow and seek out bigger and more complicated projects under Santiago’s inspiration and direction. The future of the company has been entrusted to one of the most selfless, dedicated individuals in this industry.

Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics and True Blue Power

Todd Winter is the CEO of Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics, a leader in the aviation support industry, with customers in 52 countries. He also is CEO of True Blue Power, the first company in the world to develop and TSO certify a safe, reliable, lithium-ion main ship aerospace battery – now an industry standard.

Winter’s passion for aviation began at a young age, spending many hours watching airplanes and taking rides with his father at the airport. Many visits to air shows, and the highlight performance of Bob Hoover in his famous P51 Mustang, spurred an early desire to become a pilot.

“I was literally born into aviation,” he said. “My father, John, worked at Aircraft Radio Corp. in Boonton, New Jersey. He was involved in developing and refining some of the first general aviation autopilot systems. Several years after our family moved to Houston, Texas, I attended my first AEA meeting in San Antonio. The rest is history, and I’ve been attending AEA meetings throughout the world ever since. AEA members truly are part of my family. I strive to support my friends and help serve their customers well.”

Winter’s commitment to the AEA and its members is reflected in his receiving the prestigious Member of the Year Award (2019) and Mid-Continent receiving the Associate Member of the Year Award (2001, 2012, 2024).

His leadership and industry experience offers invaluable insight into the general, business, commercial, defense, special mission, UAV, all-electric, hybrid-electric and eVTOL markets. His expertise directly benefits the future growth and development of the organizations he supports.

Winter is an FAA-certified private pilot and current member of the Aircraft Electronics Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Business Aviation Association, Vertical Aviation International, Wichita Aero Club, Experimental Aircraft Association, World Presidents' Organization, Condor Squadron … and a semi-professional drummer.

Winter and his wife, Ellen, reside in Wichita, Kansas, and have raised three sons there, two of whom have returned to work in the business. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, jeep rides, biking, and traveling to Texas, California, and Colorado.

Founded in 1964, Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics is an FAA/EASA authorized repair station and AS9100D-certified manufacturing facility. The company specializes in the manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft instruments and avionics. True Blue Power specializes in the design and manufacturing of electrical power systems, including USB and wireless chargers, power conversion products, emergency power supplies, and advanced lithium-ion aircraft batteries.

Moog

Eric McFalda began his aviation career in the United States Navy as an aviation electrician’s mate, where he built a strong foundation in aircraft electrical systems, troubleshooting, and team leadership. Following his military service, he attended an FAA Part 147 aviation maintenance program, earning his airframe and powerplant certification while strengthening his technical and regulatory expertise.

After obtaining his A&P, McFalda built experience across commercial, business, and military aviation, working as an avionics technician, instructor, and systems integration engineer. He later moved into supervisory and management roles, leading multidisciplinary teams, overseeing complex avionics installations and retrofits, and managing supplemental type certificate development and regulatory approvals.

McFalda currently serves in a field service engineering role supporting fixed-wing and rotary-wing avionics systems, including autopilot, EFIS, and flight control technologies. He delivers domestic and international technical training to dealer and OEM organizations. He has served on the AEA’s workforce development committee since 2022, contributing to the development of the Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician (CAET) program and the creation of the AeroCareers.net workforce development website.

Aviation Design and Supply

Mike Salmon is a seasoned aviation professional and combat veteran with over 20 years of direct experience in aviation maintenance, spanning service in the U.S. Army, helicopter emergency medical services, commercial avionics manufacturing and support, and business aviation operations. He holds a degree in aviation maintenance from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, providing a strong technical foundation for his career. As co-founder of Aviation Design and Supply, Salmon was instrumental in ADS earning the 2025 AEA Associate Member of the Year for delivering innovative maintenance solutions that alleviate bottlenecks in avionics shop workflows. Salmon played a key role in developing the ATAT-1100 Walker, a multidirectional bridle cable clamp tensioning tool built for Garmin autopilot bridle cable clamps but adaptable to most applications. It eliminates guesswork in cable tensioning (a frequent source of repeat squawks and lost shop hours), and early users have confirmed substantial gains in efficiency and accuracy.

As former head of technical support at Avidyne, Salmon streamlined customer and dealer experiences by developing a new registration and warranty portal and delivering extensive hands-on training for pilots and technicians at major trade shows, air shows like AirVenture and Sun ‘n Fun, and online platforms; efforts that enhanced efficiency and earned strong community feedback, contributing to Avidyne earning the AEA Associate Member of the Year in 2023.

If elected to the board of directors, Salmon is fully committed to serving the membership for the three-year term, working collaboratively to advance the association's missions of promoting safety, driving innovation, supporting professional and workforce development, and advocating for the aircraft electronics sector. He looks forward to bringing his deep operational expertise and passion for the industry to help shape a stronger future for all AEA members.

Astronics/Max-Viz

Grant Sumpter began his avionics and aerospace career 30 years ago when he graduated from Colorado Aerotech in 1995 with a certificate in advanced electronics. He was immediately hired by Santa Barbara Aerospace where he gained valuable experience working on commercial air transport aircraft. Sumpter’s avionics and aerospace career gained momentum when he went to work for ASB Avionics, also located in Santa Barbara. The opportunities and experience he gained while working with customers on a variety of aircraft, equipment, and bench repair at ASB Avionics was pivotal to his career.

Next up was Boise, Idaho, where Sumpter accepted an opportunity at Western Aircraft to be team lead avionics technician. While at Western Aircraft, Sumpter advanced quickly to avionics sales manager in 2007. In that role, he presented customers with multiple product options available for their aircraft. Sumpter’s experience as an avionics technician was instrumental in helping him communicate effectively with customers throughout the selection, installation, and certification processes. For the past 14 years, Sumpter has been working for Astronics/Max-Viz as a senior sales and business development manager. He sells Enhanced Vision Systems products while managing domestic and international MRO, OEM, military, and government accounts.

The AEA has been a tremendous resource for Sumpter throughout his career. As an avionics technician, the training offered by the AEA was invaluable. Likewise, as an avionics sales manager, the new product intro session at the AEA Convention helped him compile a wide selection of avionics products to showcase to his customers. Currently, the AEA affords him the opportunity to display Max-Viz EVS products at the AEA Convention and Regionals throughout the world.

Sumpter welcomes the opportunity to serve AEA members. His goal is to grow AEA membership and search for additional ways to enhance value to AEA members. He is seeking his first term on the board of directors.